Solar Light for Africa, Ltd. ("SLA") began its program in 1997 with the electrification of the Mustard Seed Babies Home in Hoima, Uganda. Since that time, SLA has been providing rural electrification and clean water to villages, health clinics, schools, and other public facilities using solar technology to help the poorest of the poor combat hunger, improve health care, increase educational opportunities and foster micro-enterprisedevelopment. Our program has had its greatest impact on the lives of women and children in Uganda, Rwanda, northern Tanzania and Liberia. We have also completed projects in Ethiopia and Ghana. To date, SLA has installed over 2,400 systems.

Will Redfield can be contacted about joining in a casual evening to learn about Solar Light for Africa (SLA) and to meet SLA's Executive Director, Katherine Lucey, who will share with us the latest news about SLA's achievements and how we can make a difference to change the world from Chicago.

The event is Thursday, November 20, 2008 from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm at The Spread Bar & Grill (2476 North Lincoln Ave, Chicago). To RSVP, click here:
click here

Seth Bent is raising money for the transport & care of the animals while the Oceanarium undergoes its nine-month renovation. Here is a some information from his site:

"I'm making waves for Shedd Aquarium to support the renovation of the Oceanarium! The Auxiliary Board is raising funds to help with the transport and care of the Oceanarium animals and their trainers during the nine-month renovation. Animal care is the top priority at Shedd, and the Auxiliary Board has committed to raise $1 million to underwrite this important piece of the campaign and Oceanarium renovation.

I hope you can help us reach our goal of $150,000 in on-line donations. Every dollar raised will help take care of the animals and their trainers while they are on "vacation" at the Minnesota Zoo and Mystic Aquarium. Whether it is shrimp for the sea otters or an ultrasound for a beluga, all the money we raise goes directly to animal feeding and care. We're also supporting the trainers, who have relocated with the animals to continue to give them the best possible care. "

To visit his site or make a donation, click on the link below.

Visit his site.

Megan Gavin walked for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation on October 5. I know this is past but I am sure they would still welcome the funds. Here is a part from Megan's letter:

"As many of you know I work for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. This is my third year as Walk Manager for the Ron Santo Walk to Cure Diabetes...Go Cubbies! This year we are celebrating the 30th annual Walk on October 5th.

At my Walk site I am responsible for raising over 1.3 million dollars on one day. In Chicago we have 5 Walk location and our crossite goal is 6.1 million. The Walk is JDRF's largest fundraiser.

As much as I love my job, and I want to help the 3 million people affected by this disease, I really want to help my MOM. She is my insiration, role model, my go to gal, and the reason I do what I do every day. She is a type 1 diabetic and I want to find a cure for her.

I know times are tough and each one of you have your charity of choice but I am hoping that you will find a way to support something that is near and dear to my heart and to my family. Please click on the link below to make a donation to my Walk team, Megger's Team."

Visit her site.

Two real estate agents, Sarah Coulter, along with her mother Wendy Coulter are both involved with Hands and Hearts International. Sarah and Wendy will be traveling in January, 2009 to Nigeria on a medical and humanitarian mission. Sarah's details of the mission:

"On our two-week trip, our team comprised of medical and non-medical volunteers, will focus on providing medical care, sustainable and entrepreneurial opportunities, along with educational information for student nurses and children. We will also provide HIV education for children and adults, along with medical assistance in the most under served African communities hit by the AIDS pandemic. Our medical team will see patients and provide medication for diseases including tuberculosis, malaria, yellow fever, typhoid, dysentery, and impetigo - all diseases that are easily prevented in countries like the US, but needlessly kill many impoverished Africans."

The website for Hands and Hearts International is www.handsandheartsintl.org. There is a contact section there or if you would like to make a donation, you can let me know and I will put you in contact directly with Sarah or Wendy.

Although it has been a month since I started this blog and haven't added to it since, I have been trying to figure out what to spend time blogging about. There is so much news and info already out there everywhere so I have decided to go in a different direction with this. I want to go in a direction that may actually help an organization or people.

With this in mind, I am going to mostly add to my blog with opportunities to give to charities, worthwhile causes, or people in need. Many of my clients are involved with charities and request donations for their cause. As I receive these requests, or as I learn about charities and fundraisers, I will post them to my site. If anyone is involved with an organization raising funds, please post to my site a promo for your charity as well.

Sara McCarthy is a real estate agent that is involved in the Breast Cancer 3-Day Susan G. Komen for the Cure walk in San Diego November 21 - 23.

Visit her site.

Obviously a very worth while cause that I hope people will support.

It's no secret that the market is moving in constantly changing directions that few have experienced. All of these changes and the differing media reports can lead to confusion and misinformation about much of our local market. With this in mind, I have started my blog site to attempt to address concerns that buyers or sellers may have about the current conditions and to provide advice based on the current conditions. None of us are predictors of the future, but certainly with enough experience, we can evaluate trends to help us plan. You are invited to post questions which I or other guest bloggers may respond to and hopefully together we can create an interesting blog site.

To be clear, I am starting this site with no defined boundaries or guidelines. My intention is to address real issues in today's market, as well as add pure fluff at times. All suggestions are welcome. If you have a comment or complaint about your current situation, feel free to post it here. Want to post why you hate real estate agents? Hey that's ok too. I can always learn from bad experiences. Want to make suggestions for doing something different? Always welcome.

I hope with this small start, we can begin a great site together that can be fun and actually worth checking in to and reading from time to time. It's up to me to try to keep things interesting, but I certainly will need help there. That's where you come in.

Type away!